Leonardo DiCaprio in 'The Twilight Zone'

[ALIASd]

NO Helicopters PLEASE!

Leonardo DiCaprio eyes the 'Zone'

Warners, Appian Way in early stages of 'Twilight' feature

By Steven Zeitchik
The Hollywood Reporter
July 25, 2008, 12:00 AM ET


Rod Serling, left, and Leonardo DiCaprio

Could the eerie music of "The Twilight Zone" soon be playing again at the movies?

Warner Bros. and Leonardo DiCaprio's production company Appian Way are in the early stages of seeking material for a feature take on one or more episodes from the classic TV series.

The studio and production company are quietly putting out word to creators that they are looking for pitches and script ideas based on the show for feature development.

The companies are not seeking to remake an episodic movie, as the only big-screen version of the show did 25 years ago, but rather hope to build one continuing story line based on one or more episodes.

Warners owns rights to the Rod Serling-penned episodes, which comprise the bulk of its 1959-64 run. The Serling shows include famous episodes such as "To Serve Man," about giant aliens who land on Earth to serve humans as food, and "Eye of the Beholder," about an inverted society where the attractive are considered ugly. About 155 episodes of the original series exist.

A feature adaptation could be a passion project of sorts for DiCaprio, who in interviews has cited "Twilight Zone" as his favorite show.

Thanks to syndication -- the show runs on Sci Fi Channel -- and many pop-culture homages, "Twilight Zone" continues to have a devoted, if somewhat older-skewing, fan base nearly five decades after it left the airwaves.

In 1983, Warners released a four-segment film based on the series. Each segment was helmed by a different director -- Joe Dante, John Landis, George Miller and Steven Spielberg -- with three of the segments remakes of classic episodes.

The movie drew modest boxoffice and was known mainly for a supposed curse after Vic Morrow and two child actors died during production.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...d3a4db04?imw=Y

[nathan detroit]

I like the one where the last man on earth breaks his glasses! Was it Burgess Meredith?

[pussnboots]

Leonardo seems to have good taste. I hate to admit this about a former teen idol, but I really enjoyed his previous zeitgeisty projects (Catch Me If You Can, Gangs of New York, The Aviator). I'm sure this will be enjoyable as well.

[Rex Dopey24]

he has potential here.

[Angie_Duke]

Originally Posted by nathan detroit

I like the one where the last man on earth breaks his glasses! Was it Burgess Meredith?

"Time Enough at Last" had the character Henry Bemus if that's what your thinking. "It's not fair....."

I love the original series so much, I can't possibly like a remake. I say "The Midnight Sun" is the freakiest, "The After Hours" is my favorite and "People are Alike All Over" is great simply because it had Roddy McDowall.

[astrologic]

Well this will be interesting. I'm intrigued.

[sir clinksalot]

Originally Posted by pussnboots

I hate to admit this about a former teen idol, but I really enjoyed his previous zeitgeisty projects (Catch Me If You Can, Gangs of New York, The Aviator). I'm sure this will be enjoyable as well.

Nothing to be ashamed of. Leonardo, despite being a "Former Teen Idol" is one hell of an actor. I mean, just look at what he did on Growing Pains.

[Nancywitt]

Originally Posted by nathan detroit

I like the one where the last man on earth breaks his glasses! Was it Burgess Meredith?

I love that one!

I think Leo would do a good job. I think he is a fine actor.

[Barbossa]

I wonder if anyone will get decapitated on the set of this new Twilight Zone movie?

[aashee]

I love the Twilight Zone. Anything that brings it to light for young eyes is OK in my book.

[Mr. Yeti]

I love the Twilight Zone series. Interesting about how it could be one entire continuous story instead of seperate stories. Would Leonardo DiCaprio star in it as well or just produce it?

[Roo719]

The mulitiple episodes idea has already been done; but it is a great way to spotlight short filmmaking.

Frankly, I think it's time to do "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" in the same format.

But I'll see this one.

Peace,
Roo

[nathan detroit]

If they make a single story with a prefix 'The Twilight Zone presents...' then surely all they are doing is using the name to market the movie, particularly if they are looking for an original story. This could be the start of a franchise (or at least a series of movies) but I would prefer to see an episodic approach again. The idea of the show was surely that these little twisty stories were short and to the point.